Skip to Main Content

Kinda Korean

Stories from an American Life

Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

For fans of Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H-Mart and Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings comes a coming-of-age memoir about a daughter of immigrants discovering her Korean American identity while finding it in her heart to forgive her Tiger Mom.

In this courageous memoir of parental love, intergenerational trauma, and perseverance, Joan Sung breaks the generational silence that curses her family. By intentionally overcoming the stereotype that all Asians are quiet, Sung tells her stories of coming-of-age with a Tiger Mom who did not understand American society.

Torn between her two identities as a Korean woman and a first generation American, Sung bares her struggles in an honest and bare confessional. Sifting through her experiences with microaggressions to the over fetishization of Asian women, Sung connects the COVID pandemic with the decades of violence and racism experienced by Asian American communities.

About The Author

Joan Sung is a national cultural competency conference presenter and consultant and has a BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, an MA in English, and a Doctorate in Education. Her articles regarding Asian American voices have been published in TinyBeans.com, Mochi Magazine, Memoir Magazine, and Writerly Magazine. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, her son, and two dogs.

Product Details

  • Publisher: She Writes Press (February 25, 2025)
  • Length: 308 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781647428433

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

“. . . a moving chronicle that shows strength, growth, and reflection.”Kirkus Reviews

Kinda Korean tackles the complexities of navigating between cultures with both lyricism and courage. It details the author’s life with unflinching honesty, and in doing so, creates a work of profound empathy.”—Kara H.L. Chen, author of Love & Resistance and Asking For a Friend

“[Sung’s] is a universal voice of children of immigrant parents. As a Latina who grew up in the USA with Honduran immigrant parents, I deeply connected with [Sung’s] personal struggles, and I’ve never felt more seen while reading a book. From feeling ashamed of my father’s heavy accent to not speaking perfect Spanish, I found myself nodding along to each chapter . . . Whether you’re the parent or child in an immigrant household, there are parts of you blended in these pages. I recommend this book to anyone, but if you’ve ever felt stuck between two cultures, you must read this book.” —Marie Garcia, Memoir Magazine Book Review

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images